Sugar-making process.



1. NAYLOR, JR.

SUGAR MAKING PROCESS.

APPLICATION r|LLn1JnE1s.|9l2.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

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the better to explain my process.

iUNITED STATES PATEK? FiilQ-fll.

JAMES NAYLOR, JR., 0F ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY,

SUGAR-MAKING PROCESS.

y Application filed June 19, 1912.

To all rulmm, it muy concern:

Re it known that L JAMES NxYLon, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sugar-Making Processes, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention relatesto sugar making and consists of a new process whereby the sugar crystals are thoroughly washed, dried and separated from the mother-liquor.

My process is particularly adapted to be practised with :i continuously operating, centrifugal separator, and consists essentially in withdrawing the sugar and molasses separately from the separator heating a portion of the latter and returning it to the separator whereby the cr stals are thoroughly washed and vdried an the operation of the machine promoted, all as hereinafter more fully explained. y

My invention will be fully understood by reference to the drawing herewith in which- Figure 1 is a diagram indicating the movements of the various portions of the mass, Figs. 2 and 3 show respectively in elevation and in plan a. form of mechanism desirable for practising my process.

In the figures A indicates a separator of any suitable construction, preferably a contin'uously operating centrifugal machine, for it is one of the great advantages of my process, that it may be used, and is preferably used with a continuous separator. To this separatbr the mother-liquor carrying the crystals from the crystallizing tanks or the masse-cuite from the mixer, as the case may be, is delivered through the spout B.

D'is the discharge opening for the dry sugar nd C the discharge pipe for the molasses to the receiving-tank containing a submerged force-pump F driven by the connecting rod Gr from the mixer mechanism above.

`rom this receiving tank a portion of the molasses flows through the overflowH to the storage tank, but another portion is delivered by the pump through pipe J to coil N, arranged in the heater I, all of ordinary construction and provided to heat the molessee passing through by' exhaust steam from the mam engine or any `auxiliary pump. The molassesmay be heated by other means or by other mechanism. A tempera- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 19MB.

Serial No. 704,523.

ture of 200 F. or more is desirable. and the hotter the better within certain limits.

From the coil the heated portion passes through the return pipe J and is delivered "into the separator, for instance at orifice K adiacent to spout B, so that this heated portion mingles with the masse-cuite as it. enters the centrifugal machine, whereby three im portant advantages are obtained. One, the crystals are thoroughly washed, two, the sugar is heated so that the crystals absorb the heat and flash dry as they pass from the machine and three, the mass of liquid isthinned so that it will liow freely and the machine will operate.' This last result is very important. for heretofore on account of the thickness, viscosity or semi-fluid character of the masse-cuite, it has not been possible commercially to operate centrifugal machines in a continuous process. This thinning of the mass is effected without in any way breaking. or melting` the crystals, for the timeI ot' contact of the heated molasses therewith is too short to produce any melting r ell'ect except that this has the additional advantage of keeping the discharge openings of the machine washed clean. This washing the crystals in 'their own mother liquor 1s a peculiarity of my process and l believe to be absolutely new in itself. In the present intermittent machines now in coinnion use. hot water must be introduced, (which is wasteful and only partially washes the sugarl and without the hot water the sugar would be still worse.

lt is evident that the size and speed of the pump will determine the quantity of liquid to pass through the heater, but this may he regulated and absolutely controlled by the reliefl valve L in pipe J and the regulating valve M in pipe J. whereby the amount of excess molasses returned to the centrifugal machine may be exactly proportioned to the amount flowing in from the mixer so as I do not propose to limit myself thereto, for the amount so returned may be varied for purposes of con'eninee and depending on special circumstances.

One of the. most important advantages of in v process is`that it makes commerciallr possible the more rapid and therefore the more eeonon'iical continuous process in place of the intermittent. processes now in common use` for without the assistance ot in v process I do not beliei'eithat any continuous eentrifugah in'acliine -would operate practically. Y

' Haring described in i' invention. I claim, 1 The herein described sugar making process which consists Aiii introducing the masse-cuite into a separator, \ithdrawing the cri'sta'lsiand molasses separateb-r therefrom. heatinga portion of the molasses so \\ithdi.a"\\'n and returning said heated portion direct to the separator for adinixture with the iiasse.eiiite, while the :separator is operatinfr, toA promote a more thorough continuously operating, centrifugal separator hai-ing a continuous and separate dis- Vcharge both of the molasses and the sugar.4

heating a portion ot the discharged molasses and returning said heated portion immeV diately and directly to the separator to thin the liquid therein and lto wash and flash dri' the crystals.

3. The herein describedcontinuous sugarl making process. which consists in delivering drawn. to at least about 2000 F. and returning said heated portion immediatelyY and directly to the separator, and at. the pointwhere the inassefcuite is being fed so that the two will mix andthe latter be thinned. permittingl the separatorto operate.

In testimony whereofA I have signed nii naine to this specification in the presence. of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES Witnesses 1` V. WM. Narben, FRANK F. SUTEu.

NAY'LOP., .iii.

u l 40: half of the molasses, more or less, so witli- 

